The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-29

II my. 81 nap ptHt.' tHal tlc It =
ment to which our band was attached
vas sent to Fort Pulaski. We wsre
m one Of the gunbOats raanpuvering
in that region, and on one occasion
in passing up the river, which had
several outlet channels Of mouths
The boat ran up the wrong channel
one 80 narrow that it did not permit
I turn Of the boat except under TIL
very guns or the rebels. Tie officer
n command soon discovered the
mistake, but the question was how
he was 10 get out Of the scrape,
Some distance to The front the
channel widened, so that there
would be no difficulty in turning the
boat for retreat if the Confederate
guns which commanded that part OF
the channel would keep quiet The
officer called the band together and
instructed them to play "Dixie." We
did it, and did our best, and that
Federal gunboat swung round into
the wide part of the channel, the
band PLAYING the Conf, derate tune,
and the Confederates cheering US in
stead of firing at US. AS soon as
the turn was made and the boat was
out Of the immediate range OF the
heavy guns, We changed instantly to
1.-THE Star Spangled Banner,' and
then it was bang and crash and roar,
he very men who had been cheerin.
US not two minutes before sending
bullets after US.
THAT reminds me-" said an old
Indianian. "Uf the Fourth OF July.
1864, at Kenesaw Mountain or at
least in the Kenesaw campaign. The
two armies were so close to each
other at that time one could hear the
bands of the other almost as plainly
as their own. In the morning. of
course, the bands in the Union army
celebrated the dav by playing the
national airs. while at the same time
the. bands in the Confederate army
played Dixie, Bonnie Blue Flag
and other airs then in favor with the
rebels. After there had been
spirited contest as to which side
could make the most noise, there
was an interval of silence, aud, very
much to the surprise of the Union
troops, one Of the bands in the Coz
federate camp played Hail Colum-
hia.'
"Not to lie out2Ore in the matter
of court esy. one Of the Union bands
played Dixie, so there was for
time ar interchange of compliment,
thr Union bands playing Confeder~
ate airs ard the Confederate bands
playing national airs. This pro
yOkeA considerable enthusiasm and
a great deal Of good feeling on both
sides. While the two armies were
in camp at Chattanooga [ spent a
yo,d m.," nig hts on the Outposts,
and never bad so keen an appreci>
alton of music as on tie beautiful
noonlig ht nights when scores of
bands in the rival camps woul I
play for the half hour proceeding
taps. On one side was canvas city
Of $4,000 stalwart men IN blur. Over
on Mission Ridge and little be-
Y vond were as many men IN gray.
There were probably twenty or thirty
excellent bands in each army, and
when they all playet, national airs
on one side, Confederate airs on the
other, the pickets midway between
the monster camps had the benefit
of both concerts.
II remember one night after most
Of the bands had retired from the
contest three or four Of the best in
each army played for an hour Or
more as if in rivalry. In the Union
camp after the band had rel derei
" Hail Columbia' there would tie
cheer on cheer from 10 900 throats.
At the same time the "BUnnie Blue
Flag" would be played from the
other side, to be followed by cheers
from as many men. At last the Hand
on the Union si1e struck up "The
Girl Left Behind me- and for
minute there was silence over Ia the
other camp, then the Confederate
band caught up the same strain and
they played it together to the end.
Then. as ii bv common impulse, came
cheer on cheer from both camps, and
the pickets throwing caution to the
winds, cheered together. .'-Ex.